Amplifying Connection and Embracing Collaboration By way of Volunteering at Combine 92.6 Group Radio

At Cisco, we regularly discuss concerning the energy of collaboration and connectivity. We design revolutionary options to bridge distances, bringing folks and concepts nearer collectively. We additionally consider within the energy of giving again. My expertise volunteering at Combine 92.6, a neighborhood radio station, has proven me first-hand how the spirit of collaboration brings communities collectively and transforms lives, together with my very own.  

Combine 92.6 is a neighborhood radio station nestled within the coronary heart of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, U.Okay. It serves as a beacon of connection and empowerment. Run 100% by volunteers and never for revenue. Once I first stepped into the studios a number of years in the past, on the encouragement of the Cisco Management Pipeline Coaching Program I used to be a part of on the time, I used to be struck by the eagerness and dedication of the volunteers who preserve it operating. The station’s mission is obvious: To boost the every day lives of all sections of the neighborhood in our space by offering information, info, and leisure, sharing native tales, and fostering a way of belonging amongst residents.

Whether or not coordinating a stay broadcast, overlaying native elections, managing suppliers, or just sharing tales from our neighborhood, I’ve witnessed the unbelievable synergy that arises when people come collectively for a typical goal. Simply as we at Cisco harness know-how to foster collaboration, Combine 92.6 makes use of the airwaves to convey folks collectively, making a shared house for voices to be heard. This was particularly evident throughout COVID after we have been a significant info supply and a pleasant voice for the housebound and lonely.

My position at Combine 92.6 began as an area information reporter and advanced into presenter, engineering assist, and ultimately, Board Director. It entails collaborating with numerous people, from presenters to engineers to grant suppliers and OFCOM — the U.Okay.’s communications regulator. We additionally carried out broadcast-from-home capabilities, expanded our protection space, and rebranded throughout my time volunteering with the station. Simply as in my position at Cisco, the place I collaborate with colleagues from completely different departments to ship revolutionary collaboration options for patrons, I discovered myself working in a dynamic workforce at Combine 92.6, striving to create partaking content material, coordinate interviews, and assist the station’s day-to-day operations, connecting with residents in the neighborhood. My abilities from my Cisco position actually helped throughout COVID after we needed to transition to digital instruments, together with Webex for conferences, interviews, and producing reveals.

Volunteering at Combine 92.6 has been a transformative expertise in my life, each personally and professionally. The talents I’ve honed via my work on the station have confirmed invaluable in my position as lead of the Collaboration Demo Observe at Cisco. I’ve not solely improved my very own presentation abilities but additionally discovered new methods to educate others. Motivating volunteers is completely different from staff, however nonetheless requires understanding particular person wants and passions to get one of the best outcomes. By way of that, I’ve needed to get higher at managing via affect, and it has allowed me to develop a deeper sense of empathy and a heightened consciousness of the ability of communication.

Volunteering has expanded my community, connecting me with folks from numerous backgrounds and views. This expanded community has not solely enriched my private life however has additionally broadened my horizons at Cisco, serving to me method problem-solving with recent insights.

When you really feel motivated to make a distinction, listed below are some easy steps to start your journey.

1. 1. There’s something for everybody: Begin by figuring out a trigger or group that resonates with you. Whether or not it’s schooling, healthcare, environmental conservation, or one thing else totally, there’s a volunteer alternative that aligns together with your pursuits. Discover your passions.
   2. Leverage Your Abilities: My expertise in Collaboration at Cisco has confirmed invaluable at Combine 92.6. As well as, my academic background was in movie & TV manufacturing and the artistic arts. It’s possible you’ll discover your present abilities well-suited for the chance, have acquired abilities you possibly can reawaken, and even have hidden skills ready to be found.
   3. Make Time for Giving: It’s really easy to get caught up within the hustle and bustle of labor that volunteer time slips away. That’s not the case at Cisco. It’s such part of our tradition that we’re inspired to offer again with initiatives just like the Time2Give program, which gives 80 hours of paid day without work along with our common paid day without work for volunteering.
   4. Embrace the Journey: Volunteering isn’t a one-way avenue. You’ll probably discover that the experiences you achieve may even profit your profession and private life. It’s a journey of mutual progress and enrichment.

Are you able to make a distinction with us? Discover careers now.

Subscribe to the WeAreCisco Weblog.

Share: